Purine receptors in the rat anococcygeus muscle

Evidence for two distinct P2-purinoceptors subserving contraction of the rat anococcygeus smooth muscle

1. The effects of the P2-purinoceptor agonists, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), alpha, beta-methylene ATP (alpha, beta-MeATP), beta, gamma-methylene ATP (beta, gamma-MeATP), L-beta, gamma-methylene ATP (L-beta, gamma-MeATP), adenosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADP beta S), and 2-methylthio ATP (2-MeSATP) were investigated on the isometric tension of the rat anococcygeus muscle. 2. Non-cumulative additions of ATP (100-1500 microM), alpha, beta-MeATP (1-300 microM), beta, gamma-MeATP (10-300 microM), L-beta, gamma-MeATP (3-100 microM) and ADP beta S (1-100 microM) produced concentration-dependent contractions, whereas 2-MeSATP (1-100 microM) had no effect. The rank order of potency was alpha, beta-MeATP > L-beta, gamma-MeATP > or = ADP beta S > beta, gamma-MeATP > > ATP > 2-MeSATP. 3. Contractions to cumulative additions of ATP, alpha, beta-MeATP, beta, gamma-MeATP and L-beta, gamma-MeATP were subject to desensitization whilst those to ADP beta S were unaffected. 4. Contractions to ATP, alpha, beta-MeATP, beta, gamma-MeATP and ADP beta S were abolished by the non-selective P2X/. P2Y-purinoceptor antagonist, suramin (100 microM). In contrast, contractions to ATP, alpha, beta-MeATP and beta, gamma-MeATP were not affected by the non-selective P1-purinoceptor antagonist 8-(p-sulphophenyl)-theophylline (8SPT, 30 microM). Blockade of P2X-purinoceptors with the selective P2X-purinoceptor antagonist pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS, 10 microM) or desensitization with L-beta, gamma-MeATP (10 microM) abolished contractions to alpha, beta-MeATP, but enhanced those to ADP beta S. The P2Y-purinoceptor antagonist, reactive blue 2 (RB2, 100 microM) enhanced contractions to ATP and alpha, beta-MeATP but abolished those to ADP beta S. 5. Simultaneous addition of alpha, beta-MeATP and ADP beta S produced an additive contraction. 6. The findings suggest that in the rat anococcygeus, smooth muscle cells are endowed with two distinct P2-purinoceptors which subserve contractions: a P2X-purinoceptor activated by ATP and its analogues, and another type of P2-purinoceptor activated by ADP beta S.

Regulatory role of ATP at developing neuromuscular junctions

Neuronal factors co-released with neurotransmitters may play an important role in synaptic development and function. Extracellular application of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), a substance co-stored and co-released with acetylcholine (ACh) in peripheral nervous systems, potentiated the spontaneous secretion of ACh at developing neuromuscular synapses in Xenopus 1-day-old cell cultures, as shown by a marked increase in the frequency of spontaneous synaptic currents recorded in the post-synaptic muscle cell. ATP also increased the frequency of miniature endplate potentials in the isolated tails of 2-week-old Xenopus tadpoles, with much smaller effect than that observed in cell cultures. The potentiation effect of ATP on ACh release in Xenopus cell cultures was inhibited by L-type Ca2+ channel blockers, suggesting that the L-type Ca2+ channel is responsible for the positive regulation of spontaneous ACh secretion by ATP at the developing neuromuscular synapses. The frequency of spontaneous synaptic events was found to vary greatly from cell to cell in the culture, over two orders of magnitude. Synapses with high frequency events are probably under the influence of endogenously released ATP. In addition, ATP was shown to potentiate the responses of isolated myocytes to iontophoretically-applied ACh. Local application of ATP to one region of the elongated myocyte surface resulted in potentiated ACh responses only at the ATP-treated region. Single channel recording showed that ATP specifically increased the open time and opening frequency of embryonic-type, low conductance ACh channels. Pharmacological experiments suggest that ATP exerted both its pre- and post-synaptic effects by binding to P2-purinoceptors and activating protein kinase C. Moreover, the potentiation effects of ATP were restricted to the early stages of embryos. Taken together, these results suggest that ATP co-released with ACh or released from stimulated myocytes may promote synaptic development by potentiating pre-synaptic ACh release and post-synaptic ACh channel activity during the early phase of synaptogenesis.

Characterization of the prejunctional adenosine receptors in the rat anococcygeus muscle

Adenosine receptor agonists inhibited electrically-evoked contractions of the rat isolated anococcygeus muscle. The compounds tested were: N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), N((S, trans)-2-hydroxycyclopentyl)adenosine (GR79236), the R- and S-isomers of phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA), 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), ((2-(4-(2-carboxyethyl)phenyl)ethyl)amino)-N-ethylcarbox-amidoa denosine (CGS 21680) and N-((2-methylphenyl)methyl)adenosine (metrifudil). The rank order of agonist potency was: CPA = R-PIA = GR79236 = NECA >> S-PIA > metrifudil > CGS 21680, which is consistent with an effect mediated by adenosine A1 receptors. A similar rank order of potency was obtained for inhibition of electrically-evoked contractions of the guinea-pig ileum. However, there may be a lower receptor reserve in rat anococcygeus compared with the guinea-pig ileum, since higher concentrations of agonists were necessary to produce effects in the anococcygeus than in the guinea-pig ileum and S-PIA behaved as a partial agonist. The effect of NECA was antagonized in rat anococcygeus and guinea-pig ileum by the mixed A1/A2 receptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline (pA2 values of 6.8 and 6.9, respectively). The selective A1-receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3- dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), also blocked the inhibitory response to NECA in both tissues. Here, however, the pA2 values (9.6 and 8.6, respectively) were slightly but significantly different. These values confirm that the prejunctional adenosine receptors of the rat anococcygeus are of the A1 type, and suggest that they are similar but not necessarily identical to those of the guinea-pig ileum. The differing potencies of DPCPX as an antagonist of NECA between the preparations may reflect a tissue-dependent variation in sensitivity to this antagonist.

Pharmacological actions of the coenzymes NAD(H) and NADP(H) on the rat anococcygeus muscle

1. The pharmacological actions of the oxidized and reduced forms of nicotinamide-adenosine dinucleotide (NAD, NADH) and nicotinamide-adenosine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP, NADPH) were studied on rat isolated anococcygeus muscles. 2. The actions of the two nucleotides were different, but there were no apparent qualitative differences between the oxidized and reduced forms of each. 3. In fully relaxed anococcygeus muscles, NADP(H) produced transient contractions that were subject to desensitization, but NAD(H) had no effect. 4. NADP(H) slightly enhanced contractions elicited by noradrenergic nerve stimulation. In contrast, noradrenergic contractions were inhibited by NAD(H). NADH reduced the stimulation-induced release of noradrenaline, but enhanced contractions elicited by exogenous noradrenaline. 5. In anococcygeus muscles partly contracted with guanethidine, NAD(H) produced a further sustained increase in tone; in contrast, NADP(H) mainly produced transient relaxations to which there was immediate desensitization. 6. Relaxations of anococcygeus muscle elicited by nitrergic nerve stimulation were not affected by NAD. In contrast, NADP(H) reduced them. 7. The actions of NAD(H) were generally the same as those of adenosine and can be attributed to activation of P1-purinoceptors since they were blocked by the selective antagonist 8-sulphophenyltheophylline. 8. The actions of NADP resembled those of the P2-purinoceptor agonist ATP to some extent, but there were some differences. As suggested by others, NADP may act on a unique receptor.

Potentiation of miniature endplate potential frequency by ATP in Xenopus tadpoles

1. Extracellular application of ATP (1 mM), a substance co-stored and co-released with acetylcholine in peripheral nervous systems, potentiated the spontaneous secretion of acetylcholine (ACh) but had no effect on the amplitude and decay time constant of miniature endplate potentials (m.e.p.ps) at neuromuscular synapses in Xenopus tadpoles. 2. alpha,beta-Methylene ATP (0.3 mM) and GTP (1 mM) were also effective in increasing m.e.p.p. frequency. On the other hand, ADP, AMP and adenosine (all at 1 mM) decreased m.e.p.p. frequency. 3. Unlike the transient effect of ATP analogue and GTP on m.e.p.p. frequency, the phorbol ester TPA (2 microM) which is a protein kinase C activator, increased m.e.p.p. frequency consistently and the effects lasted as long as the presence of TPA. 4. Staurosporine (0.5 microM) and H-7 (10 microM), which are protein kinase C inhibitors, each decreased the basal level of m.e.p.p. frequency and markedly inhibited the effects of both ATP and TPA. 5. These results suggest that there is a basal activity of cytosolic protein kinases in the nerve terminals of Xenopus tadpoles and the effect of ATP is probably mediated by the binding of membrane surface purinoceptors which in turn activates cytosolic protein kinases and increases ACh release.

Characterization of the P1-purinoceptors mediating contraction of the rat colon muscularis mucosae

1. Previous studies had shown that adenosine and adenine nucleotides including adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) caused contraction of the rat colon muscularis mucosae via P1 and P2Y-purinoceptors respectively, and that the stable ATP analogue adenylyl 5'-(beta,gama- methylene)diphosphonate (AMPPCP) had an unexpected direct action on the P1-purinoceptors. The P1-purinoceptors have now therefore been further characterized by use of the adenosine analogues 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) and N6-cyclopropyladenosine (CPA) and the antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX), which is selective for the A1 subtype. The P2-purinoceptor antagonist suramin was also used, to investigate the selectivity of the P2 agonists. 2. The order of potency of P1 agonists for contraction was CPA greater than NECA greater than AMPPCP greater than or equal to adenosine, and DPCPX (1 nM) caused greater than two fold shifts to the right of the log concentration-response curves for each of these agonists, although the shifts were not always parallel and Schild analysis of the inhibition of the effect of adenosine resulted in a plot with a slope greater than unity. These results indicate that the P1-purinoceptor mediating contraction is of the A1 subtype, as has been found in other tissues in which adenosine causes contraction. 3. The P2-purinoceptor antagonist suramin (300 microM) had no effect on the responses to adenosine or to AMPPCP, but abolished contractions induced by the related stable ATP analogue adenosine 5'-(alpha,beta-methylene)triphosphonate (AMPCPP). Contractions induced by ATP, which were not affected by DPCPX (10nM) alone, were only partially inhibited by suramin (300microM), revealing an A1 component to its action which could be blocked by DPCPX (10 nM).4. In conclusion, these results show that the rat colon muscularis mucosae possesses contractile A, receptors in addition to the previously characterized P2y receptors, and confirms our finding that the stable ATP analogue, AMPPCP, has an unexpected direct action on these Al receptors.

Adenosine receptors involved in the inhibitory control of non-adrenergic non-cholinergic neurotransmission in guinea-pig atria belong to the A1 subtype

We have previously shown that endogenous adenosine inhibits non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmission in isolated guinea-pig atria. In the present study the effect of adenosine analogues, such as N6 cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), 5' N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA), 2 chloroadenosine (2-CADO), R- and S-phenylisopropyladenosine (R- and S-PIA) on the cardiac response to transmural nerve stimulation has been tested in order to characterize the subtype of adenosine receptor involved in the inhibitory control of NANC neurotransmission. The effect of the adenosine antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT) was then tested against CPA and NECA. The prototypical A-1 selective agonist CPA was the most active agonist, reducing the response to the stimulation of NANC nerves with an IC50 value of 2.8 nM; R-PIA, NECA and 2-CADO showed IC50 values of 9.5, 13.7 and 35 nM respectively. S-PIA was the least active agonist, showing an IC50 value (306 nM) about 30-fold greater than that of R-PIA (9.5 nM). None of the agonists tested was able to modify cardiac response to exogenous CGRP. Furthermore, 8-PT competitively antagonized the effect of CPA and NECA with very close pA2 values (6.77 +/- 0.01 and 6.63 +/- 0.08 respectively). From these findings we concluded that prejunctional inhibitory adenosine receptors on capsaicin sensitive sensory nerves of cardiac tissue belong to the A-1 subtype.

A study of the purinoceptors mediating contraction in the rat colon

1. The effects of a number of purine analogues were examined on the rat isolated colon muscularis mucosae. Adenosine, adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP), adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), 2-methylthioATP (MeSATP), adenosine 5'-(2-fluorodiphosphate) (ADP beta F), adenosine 5'-(beta, gamma-methylene)triphosphonate (AMPPCP) and adenosine 5'-(alpha, beta-methylene)triphosphonate (AMPCPP) each contracted the muscularis mucosae in the concentration range 1-100 microM. 2. MeSATP was the most potent purine agonist, with a threshold concentration for contraction of 0.05 microM and an EC50 of approximately 0.3 microM, and AMPCPP was less potent than ATP. The enantiomer of AMPPCP, L-AMPPCP, was inactive at concentrations up to 100 microM. 3. The adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulphophenyl)theophylline (8-SPT, 50 microM) produced approximately 50 fold shifts of the dose-response curves to adenosine, AMP and AMPPCP, whereas those to ATP, MeSATP and substance P (SP) were unaffected. Intermediate shifts were observed for the dose-response curves to ADP, ADP beta F and AMPCPP. With a lower concentration of 8-SPT (10 microM) a dose ratio of approximately 11 was observed for the inhibition of the effects of both adenosine and AMPPCP. 4. ATP was rapidly degraded by the tissue to ADP, AMP and adenosine, ADP beta F was more slowly degraded to AMP and adenosine, and no significant degradation of AMPPCP was detected during 20 min incubation. 5. The results are consistent with the existence in the rat colon muscularis mucosae of a mixed population of purine receptors of P2Y and P1 types. The colon thus contains the first documented incidence of a P2Y-receptor mediating contraction. The powerful inhibition by the P1-purinoceptor antagonist 8-SPT of the effects of AMPPCP suggests that its action in this tissue is mediated by Pl-purinoceptors, although 8-SPT was more potent here than has previously been demonstrated.

Pharmacological activity of adenine dinucleotides in the periphery: possible receptor classes and transmitter function

1. The pharmacological actions of adenine dinucleotides, in particular beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and a homologous series of alpha,omega-adenine dinucleotide polyphosphates has been reviewed. 2. It is apparent that many actions of NAD can be explained in terms of activation of P1-purinoceptors, but actions of NADP cannot be explained in terms of activation of P1- or P2-purinoceptors. 3. Similarly, pharmacological activities of P1,P3-diadenosine triphosphate and P1,P4-diadenosine tetraphosphate are not in keeping with activation of P1- or P2-purinoceptors. 4. In the vas deferens and urinary bladder, P1,P4-diadenosine tetraphosphate, P1,P5-diadenosine pentaphosphate and P1,P6-diadenosine hexaphosphate act on P2x-purinoceptors and can cause desensitization of these receptors. 5. It is suggested that classes of receptors for adenine dinucleotides exist which are distinct from either P1- or P2-purinoceptors. 6. It is also suggested that in view of the finding of high concentrations of alpha,omega-adenine dinucleotide polyphosphates in adrenal medullary chromaffin cells, and of the involvement of the P2x-purinoceptor in the vas deferens and urinary bladder with purinergic neuromuscular transmission, that alpha,omega-adenine dinucleotide polyphosphates may yet be discovered in autonomic neurones and serve as neurotransmitters.

On the adenosine receptor and adenosine inactivation at the rat diaphragm neuromuscular junction

1. The effects of adenosine and adenosine analogues 2-chloroadenosine (CADO), L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA), D-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (D-PIA), N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) on evoked endplate potentials (e.p.ps) and on twitch tension were investigated in innervated diaphragms of the rat. 2. Adenosine and its analogues decreased, in a concentration-dependent manner, the amplitude of both the e.p.ps and the twitch responses evoked by nerve stimulation. The order of potency in decreasing the twitch tension was CHA, L-PIA, NECA greater than D-PIA greater than CADO greater than adenosine. L-PIA was about 8 times more potent than D-PIA. Neither adenosine nor the adenosine analogues affected the twitch responses of directly stimulated tubocurarine-paralysed muscles. 3. 8-Phenyltheophylline (8-PT), theophylline and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), in concentrations virtually devoid of effect on neuromuscular transmission, antagonized the inhibitory effect of 2-chloroadenosine. The order of potency of the alkylxanthines as antagonists of the adenosine receptor at the rat diaphragm neuromuscular junction was 8-PT greater than IBMX greater than theophylline. The antagonism by these xanthines was shown to be competitive, the pA2 value for 8-PT being 7.16. In concentrations slightly higher than those used to test its ability to antagonize the adenosine receptor, IBMX and 8-PT increased the amplitude of e.p.ps without modifying their decay phase or the resting membrane potential of the muscle fibre. 4. The adenosine uptake inhibitor, nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBI) and the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, erythro-9(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA), in concentrations virtually devoid of effect on neuromuscular transmission, potentiated the inhibitory effect of adenosine at the rat diaphragm neuromuscular junction. The potentiation factors were about 2.6 for NBI (5 microM), 2.2 for EHNA (25 microM) and 4.6 for the combination of NBI (5 microM) and EHNA (25 microM). 5. It is concluded that both uptake and deamination contribute to the inactivation of adenosine at the rat diaphragm neuromuscular junction and that in this preparation the inhibitory effect of adenosine on transmission is mediated by a xanthine-sensitive adenosine receptor with an agonist profile which does not fit the criteria for its classification either as an A1 or A2-adenosine receptor.

Presynaptic P1-purinoceptors in jejunal branches of the rabbit mesenteric artery and their possible function

1. Excitatory junction potentials (EJPs) evoked by nerve stimulation with fifteen pulses at 1 Hz were recorded from smooth muscle cells of the rabbit isolated mesenteric artery. The effects of P1-purinoceptor agonists and antagonists, as well as of substances which interfere with the inactivation of endogenous adenosine, were tested. 2. Adenosine and its analogues depressed the EJPs in the train in a concentration-dependent manner. The percentage inhibition of the first EJP and that of the later ones was similar; some early EJPs, however, were inhibited more markedly. The rank order of potency of the agonists was (-)-N6-(R-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA) congruent to 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) greater than (+)-N6-(S-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (S-PIA) greater than adenosine. The respective IC40 values (the concentrations producing 40% inhibition of the first EJP in the train) were 0.018, 0.028, 0.83 and 4.7 mumol/l. 3. Three methylxanthines, namely 8-phenyltheophylline (1, 10 mumol/l), 8-cyclopentyltheophylline (0.1, 1 mumol/l) and 8-(p-sulphophenyl)-theophylline (100 mumol/l), antagonized the effect of R-PIA (0.1 mumol/l). When given alone they also enhanced the amplitudes of all EJPs in the train. The percentage facilitation of the first EJP and that of the later ones was similar. Some early EJPs, however, were potentiated more markedly. 8-Phenyltheophylline was less potent than 8-cyclopentyltheophylline both in preventing the action of R-PIA and in enhancing the EJPs. A concentration (100 mumol/l) of 8-(p-sulphophenyl)-theophylline, which strongly antagonized the R-PIA effect, produced only a moderate facilitation of EJPs. 4. S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioguanosine (10 mumol/l) both depressed the EJPs, and enhanced the inhibitory effect of adenosine. Adenosine deaminase (10 micrograms/ml) caused some potentiation of EJPs; this action was prevented by a concentration (10 mumol/l) of deoxycoformycin, which had no effect of its own. AH21-132 (10 mumol/l) enhanced all EJPs in the train. 5. None of the above substances influenced the resting membrane potential of the smooth muscle cells. In addition, R-PIA (0.1 mumol/l) did not change the depolarization induced by noradrenaline (3 mumol/l). 6. We suggest that the axon terminals of postganglionic sympathetic neurones in the rabbit mesenteric artery possess P1-purinoceptors of the A1-type. The activation of these presynaptic receptors by endogenous adenosine may inhibit the release of the main neuroeffector transmitter, which is probably ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Evidence for extracellular deamination of adenosine in the rat heart

1. In rat heart perfused with adenosine (10(-6) M), dilazep (10(-4) M) inhibited incorporation of adenosine into nucleotides (an index of nucleoside transport and phosphorylation) to a greater extent (70%) than metabolism to inosine and uric acid (40%) and actually increased the recovery of inosine to 30% of the adenosine infused. 2. Extrapolating for complete inhibition of transport suggested that 60% of adenosine metabolism was intracellular and 40% extracellular. 3. Static incubations of atria also gave an estimate for extracellular metabolism of 40%. 4. Adenosine deaminase was localised by immunocytochemistry to the extracellular surface of endothelial cells of small coronary arteries. 5. Extracellular deamination may explain the lack of effect of nucleoside transport inhibitors on responses to adenosine in rat heart.

Role of adenine compounds in autonomic neurotransmission

Clearly adenine compounds exert numerous effects throughout the autonomic nervous system. The responses of various peripheral tissues to purines are summarized in Table 2. The evidence supporting a possible excitatory neurotransmitter function for ATP is very good in the vas deferens and good in both the bladder detrusor and certain blood vessels. ATP may also be an excitatory neurotransmitter in the colon, hepatocytes and frog atrium. These responses appear to be mediated by P2x-purinoceptors. There is good evidence supporting a role for ATP as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the taenia coli and duodenum, and some support in the anal sphincter and possibly the rabbit portal vein; these responses appear to be mediated by P2y-purinoceptors. There is good evidence against ATP being an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the stomach fundic muscle and ileum. ATP (or more likely its metabolite adenosine) may act as an inhibitory neurotransmitter by interacting with postsynaptic P1-purinoceptors in cultured sympathetic neurones and also in the parasympathetic vesicle ganglion of the cat. It seems likely that ATP released from heart, platelets or vascular endothelium could be an endogenous relaxant of blood vessels through its actions on the endothelium. Although the addition of exogenous adenosine affects many tissues, evidence supporting modulatory functions for endogenous extracellular adenosine has only been clearly demonstrated in the ileum, gallbladder, vas deferens, fallopian tubes, kidney, blood vessels, carotid sinus, heart and adipose tissue. Both ATP and adenosine, released during periods of hypoxia or ischemia, could exert negative inotropic, chronotropic and dromotropic actions in the heart. In many cases, the potential sources of extracellular purines have not been established. This is particularly important when attempting to establish a neurotransmitter function for ATP in a tissue. For instance, the one outstanding piece of evidence required to confirm that ATP is an excitatory neurotransmitter released from sympathetic nerves in blood vessels is the unequivocal demonstration that it is, in fact, released from the sympathetic nerves when they are stimulated. To date, only the release of radiolabeled metabolites of ATP, possibly from post- rather than presynaptic sites, has been detected. Studies of the release of ATP are complicated by its rapid degradation extracellularly by ecto-ATPase. Unfortunately, there are no specific inhibitors of ecto-ATPase available at present, but one hopes that a suitable inhibitor will be developed shortly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Inhibition of renin release by analogues of adenosine in rabbit renal cortical slices

Renal cortical slices obtained from male New Zealand rabbits were used to investigate the role of adenosine in the regulation of renin release. Isoproterenol produced a significant (p less than 0.01), twofold to threefold increase in renin release, that was both dose-dependent and time-dependent. Addition of either the l-phenylisopropyl or the N6-ethylcarboxamido derivative of adenosine attenuated this stimulation at concentrations as low as 10(-9) M or 10(-8) M, respectively. Higher doses of d-phenylisopropyladenosine (10(-6) M) or adenosine (10(-5) M) were necessary to significantly reduce the beta-adrenergic response (p less than 0.01). Inhibition was absent in slices preincubated with 10(-5) M 8-phenyltheophylline, a concentration that had no effect on either basal or stimulated renin release. The site of inhibition appeared to be distal to beta-adrenergic and prostaglandin receptors since l-phenylisopropyladenosine (10(-8) M) blocked stimulation by selective beta-adrenergic receptor agonists, prenalterol (10(-6) M) or salbutamol (10(-5) M), and by prostaglandin E1. These data suggest that adenosine and its analogues inhibit renin release and that this inhibition may be mediated by a receptor-dependent action on a common point in the pathway leading to release.

Cyclohexyladenosine binding in rat striatum

N6-Cyclohexyl-[3H]adenosine [( 3H]CHA) binds specifically to rat brain membranes prepared from the caudate-putamen complex with a Kd value of 2.50 +/- 0.39 nM and Bmax of 458 +/- 51 fmol/mg protein. Lesioning the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway using 6-hydroxydopamine failed to alter [3H]CHA binding characteristics. Intrastriatal kainate lesions reduced the binding capacity of [3H]CHA by 28% though this was not statistically significant (0.1 less than P greater than 0.05). In kainate-lesioned striata, however, 2-deoxyglucose uptake was reduced by only 39%.

On the type of receptor involved in the inhibitory action of adenosine at the neuromuscular junction

The effects of adenosine and adenosine analogues (L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA), D-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (D-PIA), N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA), N6-methyladenosine, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) and 2-chloroadenosine) on evoked endplate potentials (e.p.ps) and on twitch tension were investigated in innervated sartorius muscles of the frog. Adenosine and its analogues decreased, in a concentration-dependent manner, the amplitude of both the e.p.ps and the twitch responses evoked by indirect stimulation. The order of potencies in decreasing twitch tension was: L-PIA, CHA, NECA greater than 2-chloroadenosine greater than D-PIA greater than N6-methyladenosine, adenosine. L-PIA was about ten fold more potent than D-PIA. None of the adenosine analogues tested affected the twitch responses of directly stimulated tubocurarine-paralyzed muscles. In concentrations that did not modify neuromuscular transmission, theophylline and 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT) but not isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), antagonized the inhibitory action of 2-chloroadenosine at the neuromuscular junction. 8-PT behaved as a competitive antagonist and was about forty fold more potent than theophylline. It is concluded that the R-type adenosine receptor at the neuromuscular junction should not be classified in the A1/A2 system. The possibility of calcium-linked adenosine receptors having pharmacological profiles distinct from those originally defined as modulating adenylate cyclase is discussed.

Inhibition of acetylcholine release from preganglionic frog nerves by ATP but not adenosine

ATP is known to be released in association with acetylcholine at synapses in the vertebrate peripheral nervous system. Exogenously applied ATP and its derivatives have been shown to reduce the release of acetylcholine, so it has been postulated that ATP has a role in the modulation of transmitter secretion. More recent results have suggested, however, that specific adenosine receptors are responsible for the inhibitory effects of adenosine derivatives on transmitter release, and ATP, if released, must be hydrolysed to adenosine to produce inhibition. The original hypothesis that ATP itself might inhibit acetylcholine secretion would be strengthened if it were found that adenosine is very much less potent than ATP as an inhibitor of ACh secretion. We report here results which show this is the case in sympathetic ganglia.

Inhibition by purines of the inotropic action of isoprenaline in rat atria

The effects of a series of adenosine derivatives were examined on the catecholamine-stimulated electrically-driven rat left atrium in vitro. All the purines tested reduced the positive inotropic action of isoprenaline, 0.1 microM, with the potency order: L-N6-phenlylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA) greater than 5'-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) greater than D-PIA greater than 2-chloroadenosine greater than adenosine. Dipyridamole did not change the IC50 of adenosine. The adenosine deaminase inhibitor, 2'deoxycoformycin, produced a small but nonsignificant shift to the left of the adenosine concentration-response curve. The cardiac depressant effects of these purines were reversed by theophylline and the IC50 values were unchanged in the presence of atropine or in atria taken from reserpine-treated rats. It is concluded that the purine receptor mediating these effects should not be classified on the A1/A2 system. The relationship between functionally characterized purine receptors and those originally defined as modulating adenylate cyclase is discussed.